Ronald Koeman admitted he got angry for the first time at St Mary’s to fire his players towards their 2-0 win against Hull.

The Saints boss is often a picture of calmness but gave his team a half-time volley as they laboured against Hull.

Koeman confessed it was the first time he has been like that at St Mary’s since joining the club, but it had the desired effect as a much improved Saints ran out 2-0 winners.

“At home yes (I was angry for the first time). Sometimes we can get some problem about the qualities of the opponent but it looks very uncomfortable and that was strange to see,” he said.

“Angry yes. You can call it angry. You can call it unhappy. You can call it disappointed.

“Everybody can play a poor game but I think I didn’t recognise our team because it looks very nervous, it looks very uncomfortable.

“That’s strange because we play fantastic football, we have good results, we have a lot of clean sheets and we are in a good position.

“Okay, we like to win games, and maybe it was about the last defeat to Everton, and they make it difficult for us in the first 45 minutes. That was strange.

“Players like Morgan, like Davis, Alderweireld in the first 10-15 minutes, normally very experienced players and they give always a standard level to the team, and that wasn’t in the first 45 minutes.”

Koeman was most puzzled as to why he side looked so nervy, given their fantastic season thus far, and knowing that the win which they eventually achieved would equal their highest ever Premier League points total.

He said: “Of course I ask because why we are nervous? We play out of a good organisation, we show a lot of qualities this season, we play at home, nice weather, great pitch to play football. Come on. They (Hull) have to be nervous because they are near the relegation zone and then you have to be nervous because then you fight for your life.

“We like to win and we have to enjoy and that wasn’t in the first half.”

He added: “In the end yes but it took us a long time that I recognise my team on the pitch. It wasn’t the first 45 minutes.

“Hull played well, Hull was the better team, of course we had the better chances and we have to score after one minute and it makes it much more easier.

“Graziano get a good chance, good save of the goalkeeper, but looking nervous. I was disappointed about that and unhappy at half time. If you fight for relegation you have to be nervous but if you fight for something special in the season, why are you nervous?

“We know our qualities and it wasn’t good enough in the first half.”

It was potentially a big win in the race for European football, coming on a weekend which saw Tottenham slip to a surprise home defeat to Aston Villa and Koeman reflected: “It will be a hard fight between normally Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton.

“It’s a surprising result for Tottenham but we know it’s difficult to win and we are a bit closer to our target for the end of the season.”